59 stories by "Catherine Usher"
Rosemary Branch Theatre, London: It's quite a challenge to evoke the wild, windy Yorkshire Moors in a poky pub theatre in north London, but led by director/adaptor Helen Tennison, this …
Trafalgar Studios, London: The Act is a swift, high impact study of the trials (and trial) of a gay man in 1960s London, interspersed with the House of Commons debates that led to the decrim…
Finborough Theatre, London: Inspired by Dumas' La Dame aux Camelias, Rattigan's Variation on a Theme is admittedly a rather romantic, simple storyline but, directed by Michael Oakl…
Greenwich Theatre, London: In this one-man show, Stephen Chance impressively delivers a narrative of almost two hours as the self-pitying Harry Shawmut, rehearsing an elaborate apology to a …
Jacksons Lane Theatre, London: This play originates from an intriguing concept - how cells, life and death are forever intertwined - and focuses on three eras.
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Trafalgar Studios, London: As soon as Luke Kempner launches into a comic scene that could be straight out of the real Downton Abbey, the audience knows this is going to be a light-hearted bu…
Charing Cross Theatre, London: There are several musical versions of A Christmas Carol floating about this month, but few could have a more menacing Jacob Marley.
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Weymouth Pavilion: This is a very traditional Cinderella, although its arrival in Weymouth does herald an air of rejuvenation - it is the first panto held at the Pavilion since the community…
Catherine Usher talks to David Bedella about how his varied career via shows such as Jerry Springer - The Opera and Holby City has led him to south-west London this winter
Bussey Building, London: The Bussey Building is at the centre of Peckham's cool, edgy art scene and the tale of Children of Fate suits the setting well - it's hard to know where th…
Drayton Theatre, London: Switching backwards and forwards between an aggrieved wife explaining to a journalist why her relationship with her husband has reached its current critical conditio…
Richmond Theatre, Richmond-upon-Thames: Quaint, nostalgic and disappointingly insubstantial, September in the Rain explores an ageing couple's annual holidays in Blackpool, with particu…
A Greenwich town house, London: In an unusual move, creative director Samuel Orange (brother of Take That star Jason, the promotional material shouts) has thrown open the doors of his Greenw…
Southwark Playhouse, London: This is a very masculine, powerful tale set on-board a British ship during the Napoleonic Wars, which captures some of the tension and claustrophobia that such c…
Piccadilly Theatre, London: With Viva Forever! closing early, the gaping hole at the Piccadilly Theatre has been filled by the return of Dirty Dancing to the West End.
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Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London: The novel and indeed the 'Colin Firth diving into the lake' BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice are regarded with such fondness by P&P…
Waterloo East Theatre, London: Just as the story of Blood Wedding is a tale of passionate highs and desperate lows, so is this production that oscillates between scenes of well-acted, grippi…
New Wimbledon Theatre, London: With Marti Pellow starring as the brooding Che, Evita is out on the road on a national tour, and at the heart of the production Madalena Alberto emulates the s…
Jermyn Street Theatre, London: The feature that first strikes you about this tale of the last moments of John Lennon's life is how much Valentine Pelka looks like Lennon. The likeness i…
Shakespeare's Globe, London: At first glance, this seems like it could be a rather traditional interpretation of The Tempest, but once on the island and in among its strange inhabitants, the…
Pentameters Theatre, London: Two women struggle with mental illness at different times of life and with contrasting results in Tennessee Williams' pair of single act plays.
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Lion and Unicorn, London: It is often the case that fringe productions of Shakespeare, in which the cast is dressed in the obligatory modern attire, look like exercises in cost-cutting rathe…
The Waterfront Big Top at the Echo Arena, Liverpool: After Andrew Lancel was forced to drop out as the star name for the show, Bread's Jonathan Morris has been promoted to the top billi…
New Wimbledon Theatre, London: She shot to fame for becoming the wife of the King of Rock'n'Roll and no doubt everyone heading to Wimbledon this Christmas will be intrigued to see …
V22, the Biscuit Factory, London: The Biscuit Factory is a massive space to hold a production in, and Shunt makes full use of its surroundings by leading the audience through a maze of darkl…
